Overview

Objectives

At the end of the CAS, participants will be able to:

  • Design and implement accountable and people-centred programmes
  • Facilitate meaningful participation and inclusive decision-making
  • Analyse and address power relations in humanitarian action
  • Embed duty of care and organisational responsibility in practice
  • Translate accountability and care principles in organisational change

Audience

For programme managers, accountability, protection and MEAL specialists, and practitioners in humanitarian, development and community-based work who want to put people at the centre of their programmes.

Programme

  • Module I (5 weeks): From compliance to care - Integrating accountability to affected people for humanitarian organisations
  • Module II (5 weeks): People-centred programming: Tools and strategies for inclusive humanitarian action
  • Module III (5 weeks): Promoting a culture of care
  • CAS Assessment (to submit after the end of the CAS 

Registration

Registration deadline

31 January 2027

Fees

  • Full price: CHF 5’000

  • Partner rate (MSF, ICRC, UNICEF, IOM): CHF 4’000 (20% discount) 

  • Special Rate for Government and NGO/CBO Staff:
    CHF 2’500 (50% discount). Available exclusively to nationals or staff from local/national NGOs, CBOs, government, INGOs, or IOs in low/middle-income countries (OECD DAC list) with salaries aligned to local living costs. Proof required.

  • Application form for partial tuition waivers

Admission criteria

  • A Bachelor’s degree or equivalent from a Swiss or foreign university 

  • At least three years of relevant professional experience 

  • Excellent command of English* 

*Documents and language requirements for MAS/DAS/CAS 

 

Application File

  • CV (Resume) 

  • Highest educational qualification obtained 

  • Cover letter (explaining what is the reason why you apply for this course and how will the acquired skills help you in your career) 

  • Proof of English language competence dated within the last two years (see details below) 

  • Work certificates/official documents from your current job position and the previous one 

  • Two recent letters of recommendation (academic and/or professional) signed and with a direct reference to the programme of your choice 

  • Portrait photo (ID format) 

  • Scanned copy of passport 

More information about the application process is available on our admissions page. 

 

Cancellation Policy

Please check our cancellation policy

Curriculum

Period

22 February - 11 June 2027

Credits

10 ECTS credits

Teaching hours

250 distance teaching hours
his certificate explores how humanitarian organisations can build more accountable, inclusive and ethical relationships with the people they serve. Bringing together accountability, participation and care, it examines how humanitarian action can move beyond compliance-driven mechanisms toward practices grounded in trust, dialogue and shared responsibility.

Participants develop practical skills to design people-centred programmes, facilitate meaningful participation and strengthen accountability to affected people. They also analyse power dynamics and institutional constraints, and learn to embed care-oriented approaches within organisations and programmes.

Testimonial

Zinnia Martínez, IOM (2025 course participant)

“For me, a highlight was sharing this course with people from around the world – listening to their practices and realizing that we face the same challenges. I especially cherished the module on community participation, which gave me tools, methodologies, and a mindset to truly work with communities from the beginning to the end of projects. I also learned from my colleagues how to do the best with few resources, which is our reality now more than ever. The best moment was finally meeting everyone in Africa – it was wonderful to have that space to connect and learn from each other.”

Testimonial

Shalini Prasad, UNICEF India (2025 course participant)

“This course presented an excellent opportunity to deepen my understanding of AAP’s core concepts, programming, coordination, and contextualization while also enabling me to transfer this learning to SBC and other program networks within UNICEF India. A key moment was the introduction of the People Centred Approaches! Over the past months, I have applied its key components, especially in Disaster Risk Management (DRM), advancing efforts to integrate AAP into system strengthening and capacity-building initiatives at national and state levels. It is a comprehensive course with a good mix of theory and application. The course coordinators and speakers/resource persons are excellent, and the enabling environment helps learning from the diverse experiences and backgrounds of participants.”

Testimonial

Jinan Ramadan, UNICEF Ukraine (2023 course participant)

“Working in the humanitarian sector for the past 10 years, I wanted to learn more about how to engage affected people in decision-making and make their voices heard. The course was very rich — the interactions with practitioners from around the globe and hearing live examples were extremely useful. I especially appreciated the focus on the Core Humanitarian Standards and the freedom the course offered in terms of thinking, which is often limited within agency frameworks. It was liberating and enlightening, shedding light on angles we might be taking for granted. Have faith in the power of change — this course truly encourages it.” 

Director(s)

Prof. Karl BLANCHET, Geneva Centre of Humanitarian Studies, University of Geneva

Contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals

Goal 1: End poverty in all its forms everywhere Goal 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture Goal 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages Goal 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all Goal 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all Goal 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation Goal 10: Reduce inequality within and among countries Goal 16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development Goal 17: Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development

FAQ